The race to the finish line and Main Event is now in it’s final laps as only about a dozen events remain in the 2012 World Series of Poker; those “bracelet hunting” and putting in work are surely tired and picking their final events carefully as we approach both the $1,000,000 Big One For One Drop and $10,000 No Limit Hold’em Championship. While some are sure to put the pedal to the floor, others are hopping planes for some much needed respite before the “grand stages” yet to come. Meanwhile, here is what happened on Wednesday, June 27th:
Event #45 – $50,000 Poker Players Championship – Day 4
Always both a player and fan favorite, this year is certainly sure to end in a nail bitter; with just 8 players to go, Michael “The Grinder” Mizrachi has the chip lead and is looking for his second title, claim to the Chip Reese Trophy and the $1,451,527 top prize in this one.
While no Canadians remain as of Day 3, Day 5 is sure to attract many online viewers of the live stream and crowds on the rail at the Rio. No matter what, each player on the final table is now also guaranteed no less than $165,205 to turn at least a $115,000 profit for their week of work at the tables.
Event #46 – $2,500 No Limit Hold’em – Day 3
The final 15 of this event included 2 Canadians; Joe Gualtieri and Jimmy Fradettedufour. It would end up being a short Day 3 for Jimmy however, who was sent to the rail in 14th for $30,856. Ontario’s Joe Gualtieri would end up putting a full shift though, making the final table before going out 6th for $110,775.
Things have now come down to a forced Day 4 as a battle for the bracelet and top prize of more $649,000 will continue heads up in as a France vs the USA ordeal; the French look to be in great shape with Jeremy Quehen having nearly a 4 to 1 chip advantage when Thursday’s play resumes.
UPDATE: A Day 4 was not forced and the match played through the night in the end American Joey Weissman was able to make a triumphant comeback to snatch the WSOP gold!
Event #47 – $1,500 Pot Limit Omaha Hi/Low Split (Eight or Better) – Day 2
The “unofficial” final table of 10 returning on Day 3 will include 2 Canadian’s still in contention; Roch Cousineau is sitting 3rd in chips, but has only roughly half the stack of Thursday’s chip leader and Sanu Sharma sits’s not far behind him as 6th in chips.
The bracelet and $267,355 await up top, but no matter what happens now they will all be locking down a score of at least $15,078.
A decent number of other Canadians made the money in this one and it must be highlighted that included in the list is Vancouver’s Terrence Chan, who ended up barely sneaking past the money bubble in 117th to secure his 9th cash of the 2012 World Series of Poker.
For those following his epic year, that now puts him only one away from tying the all time record of 10 cashes over any WSOP, across it’s 43 year history.
Other Canadian in the money finishers on Day 2 included: Matthew Wood, 24th for $8,080 (ON), Toronto’s Nicholas Verkaik claimed his 5th WSOP 2012 cash and $6,747 after finishing 36th, Michael Machugh (also from Toronto) scored $4,872 for 53rd, Gregory Lockwood placed 66th for $3,697 (ON), Chris Back came 82nd for $2,957 (BC) and besides Terrence Chan’s 117th, $2,509 min-cash, Nital Jethalal of Guelph Ontario rounds out this list with an 87th worth $2,957.
Event #48 – $3,000 Limit Hold’em – Day 2
The starting field of 247 has been whittled down to 20, with Jonathan Duhamel sitting 12th in chips. The remaining players are now guaranteed at least a $5,799 payday, while the bracelet and $165,205 top prize await a new champion. Should Duhamel find his way to tomorrow’s final table, we can expect many a Canadian fan to be cheering the 2010 Main Event World Champion on in whatever capacity is available to them.
Event #49 – $1,500 Ante Only No Limit Hold’em – Day 1
This one is new event added on the 2012 World Series of Poker schedule and though said to be much like a “turbo”, those participating today and tweeting or updating statuses all spoke very positively about it, going as far as to say it’s definitely “a keeper”.
939 dove in to test the waters creating a top prize of $256,691 with 117 spots paying. By the end of Day 1’s play only 110 remained, so everybody is now in the money, with Mike “Timex” McDonald in possession of our biggest Canadian stack; a sitting just outside the top ten in chips. We’ll take a look at all the in the money finishers tomorrow as a many of the other event updates will be short and sweet with so few players remaining and 4 new World Series of Poker titles sure to be determined.
STARTING TODAY
Event #50 – $5,000 No Limit Hold’em
Not much to say here, it’s NLH, it’s going to have a big prize-pool and tough field with plenty of chips to play with, so we can except all the top players not seated else where to take a seat. It’s a great warmup to the Main Event and the buy-in is big enough to ensure some very strong quality of play. We’ll keep you posted as to just who of our own are still contention after Day 1 play comes to an end.
